Colin D. Hernandez, a Democrat from Los Angeles, is running for California State Assembly District 51 in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.
Hernandez said the district he seeks to represent contains Hollywood. He faces Rick Chavez Zbur, also a Democrat.
Candidate information
- Party: Democratic
- Residence: Los Angeles, California
- Education: Bachelor's degree in political science, University of Colorado Boulder, 2014
Hernandez described himself as "LA born and raised" in a questionnaire published by the Orange County Register.
Experience and public service
Hernandez has worked in digital communications and public affairs. According to BallotReady profile data, his professional history includes:
- Digital supervisor at Vantage Public Affairs (2024–present)
- Senior digital ads manager at M+R (2023–2024)
- Digital account executive at RALLY (2021–2023)
- Digital community manager at Vera Institute of Justice (2019–2021)
- Digital communications specialist at Americans for Tax Fairness (2017–2019)
On the issues
The following positions are drawn from Hernandez's responses to the Orange County Register questionnaire and his campaign website. All statements reflect the candidate's own claims.
Housing and homelessness
Hernandez said he would propose a vacancy tax on private equity firms, corporate landlords and other corporate investment entities to push more rental units onto the market at lower prices. His platform also calls for repealing the Ellis Act and enacting statewide rent stabilization. On his campaign website, Hernandez called housing "a necessity like food and water" that should be "separated from private equity." He said he would push legislation to create social housing with services such as mental health evaluations and substance rehabilitation.
Artificial intelligence
Hernandez said he would seek to "massively regulate AI so that it doesn't replace workers, cause people to have psychosis, or ruin the arts," according to his questionnaire response. He pointed to the district's connection to Hollywood, saying AI threatens the entertainment industry. AI data centers, he added, drive up energy costs and accelerate climate change.
Healthcare
Hernandez said he supports CalCare, a proposal for universal healthcare guaranteed to all Californians. He also called for increased funding for behavioral health treatment, saying underfunded services contribute to homelessness.
Taxes and budget
Hernandez said he supports a billionaire wealth tax and higher taxes on the largest corporations. Cuts to social safety net programs, including housing, libraries, education, infrastructure and healthcare funding, are what he called a "non-starter."
Public safety
Hernandez said the answer to crime "is not more police or incarceration, but rather increasing social safety nets." Improving material conditions through policies like CalCare, universal childcare and expanded housing would reduce crime rates, according to his questionnaire response.
Endorsements
Colin Hernandez’s campaign lists endorsements from Los Angeles City Controller Kenneth Mejia, Burbank City Councilmember Konstantine Anthony and former Culver City Mayor Daniel Lee. Other named supporters include West Hollywood Rent Stabilization Commissioner Rena Goldman and Estee Chandler, identified by the campaign as a founding organizer of Jewish Voice for Peace–Los Angeles.
Organizational endorsements listed include CAIR Action, the Feel the Bern Democratic clubs of Los Angeles County and the San Fernando Valley, Pilipino American Los Angeles Democrats and Young Democratic Socialists of America at UCLA. The campaign separately lists voter-guide recommendations from DSA–Los Angeles, Knock LA and Travis Helwig.
Policy positions are drawn from the candidate's responses to the Orange County Register and BallotReady questionnaires. The Platinum Tribune does not endorse in this race.
